Gomez returns to top

Manama : Javier Gomez of the Bahrain Endurance 13 team, took a step closer toward regaining his ITU world championship crown with a decisive win in World Triathlon Series (WTS) at Montreal this weekend and a second win of the year after the season opener in Abu Dhabi.

The event held over the standard distance, the five-time world champion’s strengths came into full play over the course of the race. While Gomez missed the front pack of swimmers by a few seconds, he quickly rejoined the lead group in the first lap on the bike and began pushing the pace to separate the packs by more than a minute leading onto the run. He then used his trademark running acumen to lead throughout the final ten kilometers.

The Spaniard is the inaugural champion of the Montreal World Series race, which was formerly a World Cup event.

“That was a tough race and enjoyed every metre of it. I was disappointed last weekend because I knew I was fit, but couldn’t race well. This time I could give my best and fortunately became the oldest guy winning a WTS, ” Gomez said.

South of the Canadian border, Ben Hoffman took the final spot on the Ironman 70.3 Boulder, Colorado, US podium.

“Always a good day when you get to crack a bottle and enjoy a celebration shower. Nice to stand on the podium with Matt Chrabot and Tim Don today in Boulder. Back to work for Kona now,” Hoffman said.

The American has been quietly building into his Ironman World Championship form after taking the Ironman African Championship crown earlier this year.

In hotter conditions, Brent McMahon finished fifth place finish at the Ironman 70.3 Philippines, where he is a mainstay and former champion. The Canadian backed up well from his Ironman Lake Placid win and this finish puts him en route to peaking for Kona.